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With its loads of free tourist attractions, activities and events, even the most penniless visitors will be spoiled for choice in Amsterdam. Follow these tips for a trip to Amsterdam that's as close to free as it comes, with no less history, culture and entertainment than a more expensive trip.
Free Museums & Attractions
As can be expected, the most prominent museums in the city require (frequently substantial) admission fees. (For visitors who plan to see numerous museums on their trip, tourist discount passes can be an excellent value.) There is, however, an exception for one section of the world-class Rijksmuseum. While the museum interior carries an admission fee, the Rijksmuseum Garden (Rijksmuseumtuin; open daily, 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m.) is free to the public, and hosts notable exhibits of its own; the first outdoor exhibit after the museum's renovation featured British sculptor Henry Moore, whose abstract bronze sculptures adorn public spaces all over the world, from his native Yorkshire to North America, Asia and Australia.
Moreover, some of the most special smaller museums and attractions are free to the public. Perhaps the #1 most beloved free attraction in Amsterdam is the splendid interior courtyard known as the Begijnhof, a tranquil enclave of some of the city's most historic architecture where a lay Catholic sisterhood once lived. (See the Begijnhof in picturess here.) Not far from this peaceful spot is the the Schuttersgalerij (Civic Guard Gallery), a corridor filled with 17th-century portraits of these volunteer city militiamen.
Several other free attractions are just in the vicinity of Central Station. To the east, the central branch of the Amsterdam Public Library marries form and function with its spectacular contemporary architecture.
Visitors can freely browse the nine-and-a-half floors, packed with amenities such as museums, theaters, a cafe-restaurant whose terrace affords superb views over the IJ River, and more - not to mention, of course, books and free WiFi. Farther eastward is ARCAM - Architecture Center Amsterdam, whose futuristic shape conceals a wealth of information about the architectural history of the Dutch capital. Circle back towards the Central Station; opposite the station's north entrance, the free GVB ferry to Buiksloterweg shuttles riders back and forth to the EYE Film Institute, another marvel of contemporary architecture. Stroll the picturesque promenade out front, explore the institute's fantastic interior, and then head downstairs: the basement - which contains some of the most novel and fun experiences on site - is free to explore (the exhibits and films upstairs, however, are not). Back on the south side of the IJ River, a bona fide only-in-Amsterdam attraction can be found just west of the station - the Poezenboot (Cat Boat), a houseboat, moored on a historic canal, that harbors a cat shelter. Admission is free, but donations are crucial to the shelter's survival.
Free Museums & Attractions (cont'd)
Visitors with an interest in city history can head to the southern Canal District, where the Stadsarchief (City Archive) has much more to offer than dry historical records. The Schatkamer (Treasure Room), free to the public, exhibits a broad selection of the archive's most precious artifacts related to the city. Those interested in Dutch culture can visit the Multatuli Museum, devoted to one of the Netherlands' foremost writers, Eduard Douwes Dekker; his most celebrated novel, Max Havelaar, exposed the injustices of 19th-century Dutch colonial rule on the island of Java, where he was a civil servant.
And last but not least, chess fanatics shouldn't miss the free exhibits of the Max Euwe Centrum, a center dedicated to the Dutch chess Grandmaster of the mid-20th century.
Free Art Exhibits
Museums aren't the only venues for fine art in Amsterdam. Galleries and other exhibition spaces, usually oriented toward modern and contemporary artists, are intimate spots to view smaller exhibits with a more concentrated scope, such as solo shows. The fun of these exhibits is that their featured artists - far lesser known than the Vermeers and Rembrandts for which Dutch art is famous - are often hidden pearls that wouldn't be found amid the masterworks of a major museum, yet can deliver just as much impact as these household names. Some of the most talked-about exhibition spaces in the city are also free - from the opulent Huize Frankendael, a "country house for contemporary art", which dedicates some of its massive surface area to new art; to the intensely experimental exhibits of W139, which hosts a carousel of temporary, site-specific installations, and the New Art Space Amsterdam (formerly SMART Project Space), an erstwhile anatomical laboratory that's now an incubator for the arts.
The NDSM-Werf, a former ship wharf turned veritable (counter-)cultural complex, is also a fantastic space for free art, the cornerstone of which is the Nieuw Dakota.
Free Outdoor Activities
Almost any city will have its share of public spaces where both visitors and locals can take in the outdoors under lattices of tree leaves, amid the bustle of pedestrians, or between prized historic monuments. Amsterdam is no exception, but any visitor can sense the uniqueness of the city's public spaces, which bear thte imprint of its distinct history, people and culture.
Monumental Squares
Amsterdam is full of storied squares, each with its own individual appeal.
First and foremost is the Dam, which is flanked by some of the most iconic landmarks in the city, from the majestic Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace) to the exquisite Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) on the western square, to the National Monument that rises from the eastern half of the square. For a dose of entertainment, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein are popular choices; just be sure not to fall into the tourist traps that double as restaurants in and around these squares. (See our Restaurants & Food section for recommendations.)
Outdoor Markets
Outdoor markets offer a window into the everyday life of Amsterdammers, and the city teems with various markets - at least a dozen daily markets and twice as many weekly or semi-weekly ones. For me, a stroll of the market stalls is a weekly ritual for its opportunities to socialize, sample and stock up on local foods, people-watch and more; a lazy Saturday afternoon with friends is bound to include a cheapie al fresco lunch from the fish stall, then drinks, cake and conversation at a nearby cafe.
While the Albert Cuypmarkt is easily the most famous outdoor market in Amsterdam, with 260 stalls open six days a week, I like the Dappermarkt as an under-the-radar and even more diverse alternative. The Bloemenmarkt is an Amsterdam must-see thanks to its water-bound flower stalls; other markets specialize in books, clothes, antiques and more. Urban Parks Even if the Amsterdamse Bos (in Amstelveen) is too far out of center, Amsterdam has parks of all shapes and sizes where the city-bound can find a touch of nature. The Vondelpark is the most famous and, not coincidentally, the most amenity-filled, not to mention exceptionally convenient to Museumplein and the other attractions of Amsterdam's Old South. Sarphatipark and Oosterpark are ideal choices before or after a visit to the Albert Cuypmarkt and Dappermarkt, respectively.
Another outdoor perch, open summer only, is BovenNEMO, a vast terrace situated on the rooftop of Science Center NEMO; visitors can bask in the sun, take in splendid views of the center and harbor, soak their feet in the man-made pools and rivulets that lace the rooftop ... all for free.
Free Live Performances, Events & Festivals
Free concerts abound in Amsterdam, whether classical matinee concerts or live jam sessions with after-hours drinks; some even take place in some of the city's most hallowed music halls. Het Muziektheater Amsterdam (Amsterdam Music Theater) on Waterloo Square, home of the Dutch National Ballet and De Nederlandse Opera, treats music lovers to free lunch concerts in the foyer every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
- a unique opportunity to see musicians from the Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra, De Nederlandse Opera chorus or Opera Studio Nederland for free. See the Calendar on the Muziektheater web site for performance information. Similarly, every Wednesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m., the Royal Concertgebouw - a concert hall in Amsterdam Zuid, renowned for its stellar acoustics - reprises its free Lunch Concert series. Each month, moreover, the spectacularly modern Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ (Music Building on the IJ) puts on a lunch concert of its own (see web site for performance information), while its jazz-centric annex, the Bimhuis, hosts a free, open improv workshop (from 8 p.m.) and jam session (from 10 p.m.) every Tuesday for both musicians and the public. In fact, free live jazz can be found all over Amsterdam; one of the top spots to hear it is De Badcuyp in De Pijp, where listeners can also dine to the tune of the frequent free performances.
Of the innumerable festivals and other events that take place annually in Amsterdam, some of the most fantastic ones are free.
Museumweekend (the first weekend in April) and Open Monument Days (the second weekend of September) each allow a weekend of free access to some of the most prized cultural treasures in the Netherlands, from the art ensconced in its museums to its architectural monuments. Two of the city's most beloved festivals cap off the summer with free performances: the Grachtenfestival, a week of classical concerts on the city canals and music halls, and Uitmarkt, a weekend of free theater previews to kickstart the new cultural season. Free festivals and events take place all year round; see what's on for Amsterdam by month.
Free City Tours
Visitors love SANDEMANs NEW Amsterdam Tours (capitalization intended), whose daily three-hour tours have introduced countless newcomers to the city. Tours depart at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., rain or shine, from the National Monument; for a small fee of € 3, customers can reserve a spot in advance online to ensure a place on these popular city tours. (Visitors who then choose to follow one of SANDEMANs paid theme tours receive their € 3 back in the form of a discount.) The free tour covers an ambitious number of city's chief attractions, from the historical sites of the medieval center to the artsy atmosphere of the Jordaan. But do tip at the end of the tour as a show of appreciation!
Resourceful travelers can find even the most basic travel essentials for free, from accommodation to transport and telecommunications.
Accommodations
Online hospitality networks are services that connect travelers with locals who volunteer to host them for free. Sounds to utopian to be true? It's not; millions of travelers have cottoned on to the beauty of hospitality networks, not just to save on hotel fees but, more powerfully, for a unique cultural immersion experience and friendships that last well after the trip has ended.
With more than three million members, the most popular, feature-rich hospitality network is Couchsurfing; the oldest, with a loyal membership that often prefers its smaller, more intimate network, is the Hospitality Club. Another option, which was founded shortly after Hospitality Club but remains the smallest of the three, is GlobalFreeloaders. (Hospitality network members can chime in on which is their network of choice at the About Guide to Student Travel.)
Keep in mind that Amsterdam is an extremely popular destination on hospitality networks, so it can be difficult to secure accommodations. Try to contact hosts in nearby cities such as Zaandam, Amstelveen, Haarlem and elsewhere; while transportation will add an extra cost, it may still be more affordable - and almost certainly homier - than a hostel. (Dedicated penny-pinchers can even cycle to Amsterdam.)
House- and apartment-swap sites are another option for travelers with their own pads. The online network HomeExchange.com facilitates house- and apartment-swaps for its members worldwide; an annual basic membership fee of € 95.40 (about $125) allows access to the directory of 45,000 properties.
If you don't mind a countryside holiday with some manual labor thrown in, why not WWOOF? For around 25 to 30 hours of unpaid farm work per week (hours vary by host farm), WWOOF hosts offer their volunteers free room, board and occasionally other perks. While the host farms are relatively far from Amsterdam, travelers who don't care to make Amsterdam focal point of their visit can conveniently see the capital on a (multi-)day trip in their off time. For me, the chief appeal of WWOOF is all the new skills volunteers can pick up from their hosts, from horticulture, to animal husbandry, to cheese production - all three of which I've personally honed on a WWOOF farm!
Transportation
The Netherlands is a relatively safe and convenient country in which to hitchhike (liften in Dutch), that time-tested mode of free intercity and even international transportation. Find out more with these tips for hitchhikers in the Netherlands.
Free WiFi
Scarcely any traveler can pass up free WiFi; here is a comprehensive list of free WiFi hotspots in Amsterdam: http://www.wifi-amsterdam.nl/home.html. (Take note that most hotspots are courtesy of businesses that do require a purchase in order to use their WiFi.)
Have tips for even more Amsterdam freebies? Contact me with the details!
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